September 28, 2016 | No Comments
Gary Johnson drew a blank again on Wednesday.
In another excruciating exchange on MSNBC, the Libertarian nominee was unable to name a single foreign leader he respects, failing to recall the name of former Mexican President Vicente Fox just as he previously drew a blank on the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Pressed by Hardball host Chris Matthews to “name one foreign leader that you respect and look up to,” Johnson stumbled.
“I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment in the former President of Mexico,” Johnson said.
“Well which one?” Matthews angrily insisted.
“I’m having a brain freeze,” the Libertarian nominee replied.
“Well, name anybody,” Matthews said, drawing another empty stare from Johnson.
William Weld, the Libertarian vice presidential nominee, then made an attempt to rescue his running mate, listing Fox and other politicians, at which point Johnson properly recalled it.
“Fox, he was terrific,” Johnson finally said. The former Mexican president has been a fierce critic of Republican nominee Donald Trump, ripping him as “crazy” and an “imperial gringo.”
Johnson’s blunder recalled another “brain freeze” he had in a Sept. 8 interview on MSNBC.
Asked by the host how he would handle the refugee crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo, where hundreds of thousands face potential starvation, Johnson asked, “What is Aleppo?”
Johnson was widely mocked, forcing him to face questions over his preparedness to be commander-in-chief. He later explained that he thought he was being asked about an acronym.